Cosmos plant named &#39; STRAWBERRY CHOCO SANSE 41&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Cosmos , named ‘STRAWBERRY CHOCO SANSE 41’, characterized by a very vigorous branching habit, abundance of flowers, high hardiness with high heat resistance, low susceptibility to powdery mildew and mites, large flower size, delayed bloom after pinching and distinctive red color of the flower.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

The present invention relates to a new Cosmos hybrid.

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘STRAWBERRY CHOCO SANSE 41’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Cosmos was created in a controlled breeding program by crossing two parents; in particular, by crossing as seed parent Cosmos atrosanguineus and as pollen parent Cosmos sulphureus. The breeding program was conducted in Kubuchizawa, Kitakoma-gun, Yamanashi, Japan. The crossing was made in March 2002, and seedlings were transplanted and pinched in early September of the same year. With applied lighting, the first flowers were observed in December 2002 and initial selections were made for new flower color and more vigorous growth. Root cuttings obtained from selected seedlings were planted in September 2003, and final selections for new color and more vigorous growth were made in December 2003.

The resulting seedling of the new variety was grown and asexually propagated by rooted cuttings in Yamanashi, Japan, in March 2004. This propagation and subsequent testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Cosmos variety. The varietal denomination of the new variety is ‘STRAWBERRY CHOCO SANSE 41’. Among the characteristics which appear to distinguish the new variety from other varieties are a very vigorous branching habit, abundance of flowers, high hardiness with high heat resistance, low susceptibility to powdery mildew and mites, large flower size, delayed bloom after pinching and distinctive red color of the flower.

COMPARISON TO CLOSEST VARIETY

The new variety is closest to Cosmos atrosanguineus, but is distinguished therefrom by the following characteristics possessed by ‘STRAWBERRY CHOCO SANSE 41’ which are different than, or not possessed by, C. atrosanguineus:

-   Very vigorous branching habit (8 to 10 branches per plant compared     to 4 to 5 branches for C. atrosanguineus) -   Abundance of flowers (8 to 10 flowers per plant compared to 4 to 5     flowers for C. atrosanguineus) -   Rapid growth and establishment (Diameter 10 to 15 cm, thirty days     after planting, compared to 8 to 10 cm, thirty days after planting,     for C. atrosanguineus) -   Distinctive red color of the flower (Grayed purple color near RHS     187B, compared to Grayed purple color near RHS 187A for C.     atrosanguineus) -   Different flowering time (80 to 90 days after pinching, compared to     60 to 70 days after pinching for C. atrosanguineus).

PARENT VARIETY COMPARISON

Female parent: C. atrosanguineus

The new variety differs from the female parent in the following characteristics:

-   1. Much more vigorous branching habit -   2. Greater number of flowers per plant -   3. Different leaf shape -   4. Greater heat tolerance; plants grow over summer without dying.     Also, more tolerant to powdery mildew and mites. -   5. Flower color is lighter than that of the female parent.

Male parent: C. sulphureus

The new variety differs from the male parent in the following characteristics:

-   1. The male parent is annual while ‘STRAWBERRY CHOCO SANSE 41’ is     perennial. -   2. Male parent flower color is orange while ‘STRAWBERRY CHOCO SANSE     41’ has dark red flowers. -   3. ‘STRAWBERRY CHOCO SANSE 41’ has more branches (8-10 branches per     plant) than the male parent (3-5 branches per plant). -   4. Flower shape is different. -   5. Leaf shape is different.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the new variety.

FIG. 2 shows the stems and leaves of the new variety.

FIG. 3 shows the underside of a leaf of the new variety.

FIG. 4 shows the upperside of a leaf of the new variety.

FIG. 5 shows the leaf of the new variety compared to leaves of the male and female parent and the variety ‘CACAO CHOCO SANSE 35’.

FIG. 6 shows a plant of the female parent C. atrosanguineus.

FIG. 7 shows the upperside of a leaf of the female parent C. atrosanguineus.

FIG. 8 shows the upperside of a leaf of the male parent C. sulphureus.

FIG. 9 shows the underside of a leaf of the male parent C. sulphureus.

FIG. 10 shows the calyx of the new variety.

FIG. 11 shows the corolla of the new variety.

FIG. 12 shows petals of the new variety.

FIG. 13 shows the corolla of the female parent, C. atrosanguineus, of the new variety.

FIG. 14 shows the corolla of the male parent, C. sulphureus, of the new variety.

FIG. 15 shows the corolla of the new variety compared to corolla of the male and female parent and the variety ‘CACAO CHOCO SANSE 35’.

FIG. 16 shows a bud of the new variety compared to a bud of the variety ‘CACAO CHOCO SANSE 35’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants grown outdoors in 30-cm pots in Kubuchizawa, Kitakoma-gun, Yamanashi, Japan, with a range of day temperatures from 18° to 28° Celsius, and a range of night temperatures from 10° to 18° Celsius.

The following description is in accordance with UPOV terminology and the color terminology herein is in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.). The color descriptions and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions.

-   Plant: When grown at a temperature between −3° and 30° Celsius, the     new variety can be grown as perennial.     -   -   Shape.—Spreading or clump forming, as shown in FIG. 1.         -   Height.—About 30 to 40 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 20 to 25 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Grows to about 25 to 30 cm in two months after             planting in soil. -   Roots:     -   -   Time to initiate.—About 30 days.         -   Form.—Tuberculate. -   Branches:     -   -   Habit.—Many branches, with about 8 to 10 lateral branches             per plant; stems are hard.         -   Length.—About 30 to 40 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 to 8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3 to 5 cm.         -   Color.—Grayed purple group, near R.H.S. 187B.         -   Pubescence.—Present. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Decussate opposite, as shown in FIG. 3.         -   Number.—About 8 to 12 leaves per lateral branch.         -   Form.—Compound, with 5 leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaflet shape.—Dissected, with acute tip and attenuate base.         -   Size.—About 8 to 10 cm in length, about 4-6 cm in width.         -   Texture.—Opaque, not glossy, with some pubescence on the             underside.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Palmate.         -   Color, young.—Upperside, Yellow green group, near R.H.S.             144B; underside, Yellow green group, near R.H.S. 144C.         -   Color, mature.—Upperside, Yellow green group, near R.H.S.             144A; underside, Yellow green group, near R.H.S. 144B.         -   Vein color.—Upperside, Grayed purple group, near R.H.S.             187B; underside, Grayed purple group, near R.H.S. 187B, but             slightly lighter than upperside.         -   Petiole size.—Length, about 1.5 to 3.0 cm; diameter, about 3             to 5 mm.         -   Petiole color.—Light reddish brown, near Grayed purple group             R.H.S. 187C. -   Flower:     -   -   Arrangement.—Solitary.         -   Form.—Cup shaped.         -   Flowering habit.—Long day plant, normally flowering in June             and July.         -   Time to flower.—About 80 to 90 days after pinching.         -   Number One flower per lateral stem; 2 to 4 buds per lateral             stem; about 13 to 20 flowers and buds per plant.         -   Size.—Diameter, about 5 to 6 cm; depth, about 1.5 to 2.0 cm.         -   Fragrance.—Soft fragrance.         -   Lastingness of bloom.—On plant, Spring planting, about 120             to 150 days, Autumn planting, about 50 to 90 days; cut             flower, about 7 to 10 days.         -   Number of petals.—About 8 per flower.         -   Petal texture.—Velvety.         -   Petal size.—Length, about 2.5 cm; width, about 2.0 cm.         -   Petal color.—when opening Upperside, Grayed purple group,             near R.H.S. 187A, underside, Grayed purple group, near             R.H.S. 187B; fully opened Upperside, Grayed purple group,             near R.H.S. 187B, underside, Grayed purple group, near             R.H.S. 187C.         -   Number of sepals.—About 10 per flower.         -   Sepal color.—Upperside, Green group, near R.H.S. 137C,             underside, Green group, near R.H.S. 137C.         -   Calyx size.—Length, about 1.0 to 1.2 cm, diameter, about 2.0             to 2.3 cm.         -   Peduncle length.—About 15 to 20 cm.         -   Peduncle color.—Yellow green group, near R.H.S. 146D.         -   Flower bud size.—Length, about 0.8 to 1.2 cm; diameter,             about 0.8 to 1.2 cm.         -   Bud opening rate.—About 70% to 80%.         -   Flower bud color.—Grayed purple group near R.H.S. 187A.         -   Stamen.—Degenerated.         -   Anther.—Degenerated.         -   Pistil.—Number, about 30 to 50 per flower; length, about 5             to 8 mm.         -   Stigma.—Color, Yellow group, near R.H.S. 13A.         -   Style.—Length, about 0.8 to 1.0 mm; color, Yellow group,             near R.H.S. 13A.         -   Ovary.—Color, light yellow, near R.H.S. 154D; no seed             development. -   Disease resistance: Increased tolerance to powdery mildew and mites. -   Heat tolerance: Increased heat tolerance; plants grow over summer     without dying. 

1 A new and distinct variety of Cosmos, identified as ‘STRAWBERRY CHOCO SANSE 41’, substantially as shown and described. 